North Myrtle Beach, SC — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Planning and Development Department, Building Division, City of North Myrtle Beach

Street address

1018 Second Avenue S, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

Phone

843-280-5560

bjhardee@nmb.us

Coverage

Applies within incorporated City of North Myrtle Beach only. Unincorporated Horry County parcels are handled by Horry County.

Online portal

OpenGov Permitting and Licensing

OpenGov

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for North Myrtle Beach

The Building Division states its responsibilities include plan review, issuance of building permits, and construction inspection. City fee ordinance and portal categories cover building, grading, pools, docks and piers, dune walkovers, seawalls, fences, utilities, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas permits.

Note: No simple public city exemption checklist was identified on the current North Myrtle Beach pages reviewed. Confirm exempt work directly with the Building Division for minor repairs and accessory work.

Required documents

Application and plans through OpenGov
Valuation support where needed
Survey and floodplain materials where applicable
New survey requirements for building permits effective September 1, 2025

Building code: City ordinance adopts the latest editions as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council. The Building Division uses current South Carolina code adoptions and city ordinance fee provisions.
Permit validity: No public North Myrtle Beach permit expiration rule was clearly identified in the reviewed current pages.
Owner-builder: No separate current owner-builder handout was identified on the reviewed city pages.
Contractor requirements: City tradesman application requires a copy of the applicable South Carolina state license. Regulated trade qualifiers applying for city trade certification pay a $125 application fee and certification is valid for five years.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No citywide public review clock was identified on the current pages reviewed.

01

Confirm project jurisdiction and permit type through the Planning and Development Department.
02

Submit the application and supporting plans through the city's OpenGov online permit application portal.
03

For valuation-based permits, the Building Division determines valuation using ICC Building Valuation Data and city fee methodology.
04

Pay the applicable permit and plan review fees after city review.
05

Obtain the issued permit through the portal or office before starting work.
06

Continue through required inspections coordinated through the Building Division and any required Fire Department reviews for applicable projects.

Typical processing time: No citywide public review clock was identified on the current pages reviewed.

Source: Planning and Development Department, Building Division, City of North Myrtle Beach ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

North Myrtle Beach building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$15.00 at 0 to $500 valuation under the city fee ordinance.

Plan check fee

One-half of the building or grading permit fee when plans are required. One- and two-family permit applications instead have a $25 submittal plan-check fee credited toward the permit fee.

Permit fee formula

Valuation based. City uses ICC Building Valuation Data and a permit fee schedule for building permits, with separate trade permit fees for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas permits when not included in a general permit.

Reinspection fee

$100 per reinspection for wrong address, faulty work, corrections not made, or work not ready.

Penalty (no permit)

Permit fees double for work started before permit issuance.

Online portal supports submittal and permit handling. The city also lists in-office permitting hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

OpenGov portal (online)
843-280-5560 (phone)

Inspection hours: In-office permitting hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Typical sequence: Permit issuance, trade and building inspections by phase, and Fire Department inspections for applicable systems and commercial work.

Source: Planning and Development Department, Building Division, City of North Myrtle Beach ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about North Myrtle Beach permits

01 Do I need a building permit in North Myrtle Beach, SC? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in North Myrtle Beach, SC? ▸

Building permit fees in North Myrtle Beach, SC are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $15.00 at 0 to $500 valuation under the city fee ordinance.. Fees are calculated as: Valuation based. City uses ICC Building Valuation Data and a permit fee schedule for building permits, with separate trade permit fees for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas permits when not included in a general permit.. Plan check fee: One-half of the building or grading permit fee when plans are required. One- and two-family permit applications instead have a $25 submittal plan-check fee credited toward the permit fee..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in North Myrtle Beach, SC? ▸

To apply for a building permit in North Myrtle Beach, SC, follow these steps: 1. Confirm project jurisdiction and permit type through the Planning and Development Department. 2. Submit the application and supporting plans through the city's OpenGov online permit application portal. 3. For valuation-based permits, the Building Division determines valuation using ICC Building Valuation Data and city fee methodology. 4. Pay the applicable permit and plan review fees after city review. 5. Obtain the issued permit through the portal or office before starting work. 6. Continue through required inspections coordinated through the Building Division and any required Fire Department reviews for applicable projects.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in North Myrtle Beach, SC? ▸

Building permit processing times in North Myrtle Beach, SC typically run No citywide public review clock was identified on the current pages reviewed.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in North Myrtle Beach, SC? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in North Myrtle Beach, SC via: OpenGov portal, 843-280-5560.

last verified April 2026 source Planning and Development Department, Building Division, City of North Myrtle Beach ↗ entry id permits/south-carolina/horry/north-myrtle-beach

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Planning and Development Department, Building Division, City of North Myrtle Beach before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of North Myrtle Beach

Other jurisdictions in Horry County.